Washing machine



0. BUTTER WASHING MACHINE Dec. 4, 1962 INVENT'OR Filed March 23, 1960 0/10 BUTTER of the material disposed in the drum United States Patent C) 3,066,333 WASHING MACHINE Otto Butter, Neckargemund, Germany, assignor t Gesellschaft fur Industrielle Technik m.b.H., Heidelberg, Germany Filed Mar. 23, 1950, fier. No. 17,078

Claims priority, application Germany Mar. 24-, 1959 4 Claims. ((1. 15-312) for the material.

All machine constructions of this type known from the prior art are wasteful and are useable only for special purposes. For example, it is hardly possible to employ a washer with the same eitect for cleaning dishes and pots because the pots cannot possibly be cleaned with water alone, especially in the presence of adhered remnants. In such cases pre-cleaning is necessary which must be eifected manually.

The conditions in connection with cleaning vegetables and fruits are similar when they are placed in a suitably constructed container. In those cases it will be found that the parts which are disposed in layers are not at all or only incompletely freed of the impurities so that it is necessary in most cases to Wash them afterwards by hand.

It is an object of the invention to provide a multipurpose washer which permits the washing of dishes and pots in a similar manner and where the manual washing which might e necessary may be eliminated.

It is another object of the invention that the washer in accordance with the invention provides for the washing of parts disposed in layers such as vegetables, fruits and the like in which connection good mixing and loosening for the material must be effected.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a multi-purpose washer which carries out all steps of washing and by which preliminary washing or subsequent washing of the material can be eliminated.

It is still a further object of the invention to solve the aforementioned problems by the use of a washer having several rotatable studs which project into the wash tub.

A particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention is attained in that the studs rotate at different numbers of revolution.

In using the washer, for example, for washing dishes or vegetables, the wash drum is mounted upon a rotatable stud and the casting or spraying wheel is mounted upon a further stud with the number of rotations of the spraying wheel being a multiple of that of the wash material containing drum. Due to the eccentric arrangement of the spraying wheel, all parts arranged in the wash material containing drum including also those along the border are contacted by the washing jet or spray so that a complete cleaning of the individual parts of the material to be Washed is obtained. Contrary to the central positioning of the casting wheel, it is possible to manage with a lesser quantity of water when using the eccentric arrangement, because the spraying range of the jet or spray wheel may be smaller and at the most of a magnitude corresponding to the radius of the material containing drum. Accordingly the use of a smaller spraying wheel is made possible by the eccentric arrangement. For driving this smaller spraying or casting wheel a motor of smaller power may advantageously be used. This, in turn, provides the possibility of decreasing the dimensions of the entire washing machine or washer as compared to one having the spraying wheel arranged centrally so that a smaller weight and thereby a lower cost is made possible.

If the multi-purpose washer is to be employed for cleaning strongly soiled objects such as pots and vessels, and also for cleaning vegetables, potatoes or the like, a rotatable stud may be provided for receiving the material containing drum and others for receiving brushes or the like for cleaning the material.

These brushes or disks are suitably formed in accordance with the purpose for which they are used and make possible the cleaning of the material from the adhered impurities. In carrying out this type of work, the water supply or intake means as well as the sink or disposal is advantageously kept open so that satisfactory disposal of the impurities or sediment is insured. The water consumption therefore is only greater for cleaning strongly soiled objects or material.

When cleaning glasses and coffee dishes the sink or water outlet may normally remain closed during the washing operation so that the water consumption is small because owing to the arrangement of the spraying wheel the water is used repeatedly for washing. Advantageously the material to bewashed is first rinsed with cold water and only shortly before terminating the washing operation after the cold wash'water is completely released, hot water is introduced into the washer.

' It is furthermore advantageous to make the housing of the washer at least partly of transparent material to enable observation of the washing operation and to determine whether and when the material has been fully cleaned. I If it is desired to peel potatoes or fruit previously cleaned in the washer, the invention provides at least .one stud for receiving a peeling device, for example a into the container which devices can likewise be driven.

It is desirable that the conversion of the machine to the different types of working operations can be undertaken as rapidly as possible. Therefore, in accordance with the invention, the rotatable studs are provided with :a rapid looking or snap on means for the spraying wheel, the basket for the dishes, the brushes and for the peeling device.

and necessary gearing arrangement for obtaining difierent numbers of rotation of the rotatable studs below the base of the tub in a space which is in the form of a pedestal.

Furthermore, the invention provides for better utilization of the washing and rinsing water in the washer in that a baffie plate is provided proximate the bottom of the tub so that besides a continuous flow off for the washing water a water collecting space is defined in which the stud of the spraying wheel is arranged. Advantageously the baflle is provided with an aperture which may be closed to make possible the flow off of the Washing and rinsing water out of the water collecting space.

The invention furthermore provides for the introduction of the water through a pivotally mounted jet or spraying spigot of known form below the material containing drum in the wall of the wash basin or tub.

In this manner the water arrives from the bottom in the wash material containing drum and thus is able to loosen material resting in layers so that satisfactory cleaning is possible. It has been found to be advantageous to proyi le the spraying device in the wall of the tub in a manner that it may be removed. The aperture which thus becomes available is suitable for extending therethrough other auxiliary cleaning means.

In accordance with the invention a duct or the like is provided in the passage for the adjustable spraying device ctor introducing an additional washing agent. This additional washing agent may, if required, be introduced by injection when strongly soiled washing material is to be cleaned. The arrangement .of the container for the auxiliary washing agent may suitably be in the space of the pedestal of the housing.

In order to make possible the adjustment of the material containing drum or basket in order to obtain a predetermined setting by manual means a hand wheel may be provided in the space of the support or pedestal for which purpose it is necessary to provide coupling means between the driven rotatable stud of the material containing drum and the driving motor because otherwise adjustment is not possible. By turning the hand wheel the washmaterial containing drum or basket can be set to any desired position so that it is possible to clean particularly soiled parts with the aid of the adjustable spraying device.

It is possible by means of the Washer in accordance with the invention to clean all types of material or objects which need to be cleaned in a. household by using suitably shaped baskets or the like.

:Further objects, advantages and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings illustrating different embodiments in which:

FIG. '1 is a schematic sectional view taken longitudinally of the automatic washer when the material con tainer such as a basket or drum is in position;

FIG. '2 is a plan view of theopen washer with the container removed;

FIG. '3 is a'schematic partial view of the washer with the container and spraying wheel mounted in position;

FIG. 4 is a further embodiment of -a wash material containing drum or cage witha brush mounted upon a second rotatable stud;

FIG. is the plan view of the wash material containing cage in accordance with FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a schematic partial illustration of the washer without a container having a cleaning brush mounted upon a stud for cleaning pots; and

FIG. '7 illustrates the arrangement of the hand wheel including the coupling means therefor for manual setting of the container.

The washer which includes a'housing comprising a base 2 and a cover or cowling 3 is mounted on the base 1, for example a table, and a gasket 4 is provided between the 'cowling and the base 2. A wash material container such as an openwork basket for dishes 5 is mounted on rapid fastening means 8 provided on a rotatable stud 6. A further rotatable stud 7 serves for mounting auxiliary cleaning devices as described more in detail hereinafter.

A rapid fastening means 8 is provided on the rotatable stud 6 for receiving the container or basket 5. A motor 9 which is mounted in a housing 10 below the bottom and support 14 serves for driving the rotatable stud 6 by way of a worm 50 and a worm wheel 34. The drive of the rotatable stud 7 is effected by the shaft of the motor 9 by way of a pinion gear 11. The housing 10' is secured to the bottom and support plate 14 of the washer by means of screws 12, 13.

A spraying device 16 which is connected in any suitable manner by way of a conduit 17 to a cold or warm water source is connected by means of a ball joint 15 to the wall of the washer below th basket 5. An auxiliary washing aid container 18 having a supply conduit 19 related in the manner of an injector to the intake duct of the sprayer 16 is provided below the bottom and support plate 14 of the washer.

FIG. 3 illustrates the manner in which a spraying wheel 20 is mounted on the rotatable stud 7 similarly to the manner in which the basket 5 is mounted by a rapid fastening means 8 which may be a friction cone. The rotatable stud 7 is closed by means of a gasket 21 with respect to the bottom and support 14. Similarly the rotatable stud 6 is provided with a gasket 22.

It is expedient to provide a container such as a wire basket which is adapted for the special purpose when it is desired to clean potatoes or the like.

FIG. 4 illustrates the wash material drum 23 for receiving material in lumps, such as potatoes or apples. Inasmuch as larger quantities of dirt occur in the cleaning of potatoes, it is expedient to have the valve or spigot 53 of a drain 24 continuously open in order to provide for even disposal of the dirt particles which are removed. A baflle 2 5 is provided on the base plate 14 of the washer in a manner that a water collecting space 51 is defined beside the drain '24- which is continuously open, in which space the rotatable stud 7 is arranged with the spraying wheel 20 thereby providing for the repeated use of the water sprayed into the washer by the sprayer 16.

The material container 23 (FIGS. 4, 5) for receiving the potatoes is in the form of a cage and is provided with bridges 26 at its upper portion which make possible the introduction of the material to be washed into the interior of the container 23. At its bottom portion the material container 23 has an aperture 29 defined by two beads through which a-rotatable friction device 28 mounted upon the rotatable stud 7 projects into the interior of the container 23. The upper end of the container 23 may be closed by a lid 30 (FIG. 4). The friction device 28 is connected to the rotatable stud 7 by means of quick locking means 31.

In cleaning pots it is possible to dispense with a material containing drum as indicated in FIG. 6. In that event the stud 6 runs idle. A cleaning brush 32 is mounted upon the rotatable stud 7 the length of which corresponds approximately to the height of the wall of a pot 33 to be cleaned.

The motor 9 provided for driving the rotatable stud 6 drives the worm wheel or gear 34 by way of the worm S0. The worm gear is mounted upon a sleeve 35 which is provided with a plurality of apertures 36 distributed circumferentially of the inner wall of the sleeve. A plurality of apertures 37 is provided in the rotatable stud .6 which are disposed opposite the apertures 36 in the sleeve. For .coupling the sleeve 35 with the rotatable stud 6 balls 38 are provided which are held by means of a sliding member 39 in the apertures 36 and 37 in a manner to carry along the rotatable stud 6 when the worm gear 34 is rotated. The sliding member 39 is connected by a key 40 with the rotatablestud 6 and its longitudinal movement is limited 'by a locking ring 41. At the lower end of the sliding member 39 a manual wheel 42 is secured by means of screws 43 at the lower end of the sliding member 39.

For operation of the machine the material containing drum or basket 5 is placed upon the rotatable stud 6 upon removal of the cowling 3 and after the spraying Wheel has been placed upon the rotatable stud 7 if the latter is required. The cowling 3 is again placed upon the lower container 2 and cold water for pie-rinsing or hot water for washing is introduced through the adjustable spraying member 16 from below into the wash material container 5. The water dropping from the material being washed, only a part of which runs off through the drain 24, which is provided with a spigot 53, is caught in the water collecting space 51 defined by the baffle and is again cast into the material containing drum 5 by the spraying wheel 20. Due to the eccentric arrangement of the spraying wheel 20 with respect to the axis of the rotatable stud 6 it is insured that all parts arranged in the drum 5, including those along the rim are sprayed with the water.

Upon conclusion of the washing operation which is normally performed with cold water while the drain 24 is advantageously open when larger quantities of impurities are present, hot water is sprayed by the spraying device 16, particularly when dishes are being washed, into the wash basket 5. In this manner the dishes being washed are heated to an extent that subsequent drying is no longer necessary.

If it is found during the washing operation that some dishes are particularly soiled and they are to be treated separately, for example in that a washing agent is added from the agent container 18 to the wash water of the spraying device 16, it is necessary to interrupt the rotating of the material containing dmm and to set it manually to the desired position. For this purpose the hand wheel 42 is drawn downwardly so that the smaller end of the slide 39 permits evasion of the balls 38 so that any rigid connection between the sleeve and of the wall of the hollow rotatable stud 6 is interrupted. It is now possible to rotate the hand wheel 42 manually and thi results in the rotatable stud 6 being carried along by way of key 40 so that in this manner it is possible to bring the wash basket 5 into the desired position.

During this time the motor 9 drives the worm gear 34 which is held in bearings 44. If the hand wheel 42 is moved towards the worm gear 34, the balls 38 are placed into effective position whereby the coupling of the sleeve 35 and of the rotatable stud 6 is again restored.

It is likewise possible to mount a peeling device upon the rotatable stud 7 which may be for example a friction device 28 as in FIG. 4 provided with hard bristles, whereby a grinding or peeling of the upper surface of the material is effected.

Having now described my invention with reference to the embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings I do not wish to be limited thereto, but what I desire to protect by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a multi-purpose washer having motor drive means, a main housing having an upper portion defining a tub, a rotatable container for material to be cleaned disposed in said tub and having one member of a rapid fastening means at the lower end thereof, a base for supporting said main housing and said container, a bottom and support plate in said main housing defining the bottom at the lower end of said tub and having said motor drive means secured to the lower side thereof, a drive means housing secured to the bottom of said support plate around said drive means, a plurality of rotatable studs having driving connections below said bottom side with said motor drive means and extending therefrom in sealed condition through said bottom and support plate, one of said studs having a member defining another member of said rapid fastening means adjacent to top side of said bottom and support plate and adjacent the lower end of said container for engagement with said one member and operative to support and rotate said container, and another of said studs being disposed at a lower level than said one of said studs for supporting an exchangeable rotatable upwardly extending material treating device below the lower end of said container.

2. In a multi-purpose washer having motor drive means, a main housing having an upper portion defining a tub, a rotatable container for material to be cleaned disposed in said tub and having one member of a rapid fastening means at the lower end thereof, a base for supporting said main housing and said container, a bottom and support plate in said main housing defining the bottom at the lower end of said tub and having said motor drive means secured to the lower side thereof, a drive means housing secured to the bottom of said support plate around said drive means, a plurality of rotatable studs having driving connections below said bottom side with said motor drive means and extending therefrom in sealed condition through said bottom and support plate, one of said studs having a member defining another member of said rapid fastening mean adjacent the top side of said bottom and support plate and adjacent the lower end of said container for engagement with said one member and operative to support and rotate said container, another of said studs being disposed at a lower level than said one of said studs for supporting an exchangeable rotatable upwardly extending material treating device below the lower end of said container, and liquid injecting means disposed within said tub radially of said studs, said driving connections including gears operable to rotate said studs at different speeds.

3. In a multi-purpose washer having motor drive means, a main housing having an upper portion defining a tub, a rotatable container for material to be cleaned disposed in said tub and having one member of a rapid fastening means at the lower end thereof, a base for supporting said main housing and said container, a bottom and support plate in said main housing defining the bottom at the lower end of said tub and having said motor drive means secured to the lower side thereof, a drive means housing secured to the bottom of said support plate around said drive means, a plurality of rotatable studs having driving connections below said bottom side with said motor drive means and extending therefrom in sealed condition through said bottom and support plate, one of said studs having a member defining another member of said rapid fastening means adjacent the top side of said bottom and support plate and adjacent the lower end of said container for engagement with said one member and operative to support and rotate said container, another of said studs being disposed at a lower level than said one of said studs for supporting an exchangeable rotatable upwardly extending material treating device be low the lower end of said container, said driving connections including gears operable to rotate said studs at different speeds, and liquid spraying means comprising a spraying wheel mounted on another of said. studs and said other stud rotating at a speed greater than said stud supporting said container.

4. In a multi-purpose washer having motor drive means, a main housing having an upper portion defining a tub, a rotatable container for material to be cleaned disposed in said tub and having one member of a rapid fastening means at the lower end thereof, a base for supporting said main housing and said container, a bottom and support plate in said main housing at the lower end of said tub having said motor drive means secured to the lower side thereof, a motor drive means housing secured to the bottom of said support plate around said motor drive means, a plurality of rotatable studs having driving connections below said bottom side with said motor drive means and extending therefrom in sealed condition through said bottom and support plate, one of said studs having a member defining another member of said rapid fastening means adjacent the top side of said bottom and support plate and adjacent the lower end of said container for engagement with said one member and operative to support and rotate said container, and a rotatable upwardly extending material treating device mounted on another of said studs, said stud supporting said device rotating at a speed greater than that supporting said container, and rapid engagement means for said material treating device including a member of conical conformation on said stud and a corresponding member on said material treating device. A l

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Hopkins Nov. 22, 1921 Pauly Oct. 25, 1932 Parsons Sept. 8, 1936 Baumann Feb. 28, 1950 Loeb Dec. 5, 1950 Gerhardt et a1. Oct. 16, 1951 Farison May 22, 1956 Bodmer can: July 5, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Aug. 13, 1925 

